The University of Western Ontario Faculty Association (UWOFA) is a union representing about 1,500 faculty members and 50 librarians and archivists at the University of Western Ontario in London.
UWOFA negotiates collective agreements, advises members on employment matters, handles workplace disputes and grievances, and advances the professional interests of faculty members, academic librarians and archivists.
In the broader community, UWOFA representatives meet with provincial and federal politicians to ensure members' voices are heard and reflected in education and labour policy decisions. As well, UWOFA strives to engage members and citizens through awareness campaigns regarding post-secondary education during general membership meetings, community events, contact with journalists, and town hall discussions.
UWOFA Voices: 'It feels right to work toward better stewardship'
In a new series, UWOFA members share how they came to be active supporters of their union.
By Ben Rubin
In his graduate course, Forest Decline Concepts, Dr. Manion asked us "How much tree mortality is normal in a forest and how can you know when and where that baseline level is exceeded?" I took the question to heart and started as his graduate student to trek through the woods, measure thousands of trees, read papers, and sweat through analyzing data. At forest pathology conferences I took pride in knowing that our lab dealt with big picture questions and the health of the forest, while most presentations I heard were about maladies of individual trees. Predictably, when I reflect on my past mindset now, I am most struck by my own myopia. I wanted a professorial career based solely on a love of science and was naive to the workings of the precarious academy that houses science. It never occurred to me that, as a professor, I'd want to work to support my labour union.
